Mandate members urged to attend 1913 Lockout commemoration in Dublin
Wednesday 28 August 2013Mandate members urged to attend 1913 Lockout commemoration in Dublin
The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, will lead the State Commemoration of the 1913 Lockout which will take place on Saturday, 31 August next – 100 years precisely to the day of Bloody Sunday 1913 – at the Larkin Statue on O’Connell Street, Dublin.
Mandate’s General Secretary John Douglas, will be in attendance in his role as Irish Congress of Trade Unions President and he’s urging all Mandate members to come along to commemorate one of the most important events in our history.
“It is important that we all recognise the struggle of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents during the 1913 Lockout. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary workers were locked out of their employment and starved into submission as they fought for the right to be in a trade union. They fought so that we could have a better future and that’s why Saturday is such an important commemoration.
Mr Douglas also urged any members attending to support trade union friendly businesses on the day.
“I think it would be appropriate for workers who are in Dublin on such a day to spend their money in trade union friendly shops and pubs. It’s important that we all spend our money where workers count. You can find a list of “Fair Shops” at www.fairshop.ie and Mulligans Bar on Poolbeg Street is a trade union friendly pub,” he said.
The commemoration will begin at 12.30 pm and the public are invited to attend, however, members of the public are advised to be in position by 12 noon. The city centre will remain open for business, including Arnotts’ car park.
Immediately after the official 1913 Lockout commemoration, there will be a re-enactment of the events of Bloody Sunday – which took place on 31 August 1913 – when police baton-charged crowds on Sackville (now O’Connell) Street. This part of the event is being organised by the North Inner City Heritage Group with Dublin Council of Trade Unions.
Full details of the programme for the State Commemoration of the Lockout will be released in the coming days once they are finalised. Check www.mandate.ie for updates.
